Lil Durk Trial Delayed: Murder-for-Hire Case Moves to August

The federal murder-for-hire trial for rapper Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, has been rescheduled for August 20. This delay comes after a judge denied a request from his three co-defendants to have their cases heard separately.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Fitzgerald ruled that trying the four men together would promote "judicial efficiency." He noted that the "vast majority of evidence" would be admissible against each defendant. The judge also stated that any potential "risk of spillover prejudice" could be addressed through specific instructions to the jury.

Prosecutors allege Banks, 33, used coded language to hire hitmen for a daylight execution in Los Angeles on August 19, 2022. The intended target was reportedly Tyquian Terrel Bowman, also known as Quando Rondo, whom Banks allegedly blamed for a 2020 death. Bowman's cousin was killed during the incident. Banks has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been held without bail since his arrest in October 2024.

In a separate ruling, the judge denied Banks' request for a more detailed indictment, deeming the current one sufficient to inform him of the government's case theory. The trial was originally scheduled for April but was continued by the court over the objection of Banks' legal team.